A LIBERAL senator has hatched a radical plan to get more water projects approved across Australia, but the idea involves scrapping a whole level of government. Queensland Senator Gerard Rennick visited councils from the Far North down to Central Queensland in a bid find out what was standing in the way of major water developments. Mr Rennick believes major projects like Hells Gates dam, reservoirs and flood mitigation would be built if the regulatory process was eased. The senator believes the Queensland government is regulating water projects out of existence and getting in the way of local councils plans to strengthen the state s water security.
An extra $15 million will be spent to increase Rookwood Weir s maximum medium priority yield by 10,000ML, but Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said she would still fight for the originally-conceived high yield amount. The state and federal governments announced today that Sunwater and the companies involved in constructing the weir decided to raise its crest height by 0.7m, bringing the medium priority yield figure to 86,000ML. The governments will pay for the extra work with $7.5 million each, bringing the total cost of the project to $367 million. Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry. Ms Landry said the State Government had finally seen sense and committed to spending more money on Rookwood Weir.
Queensland needs to build more critical dams to revive its economy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said, as he expressed frustration at the State Government dragging its heels. He has urged to state to get on with approving more job generating projects for the regions, including Hughenden Dam and Hells Gate. Prime Minister Scott Morrison with his deputy, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack, on a visit to the Tully family property near Quilpie last week. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP Mr Morrison would not commit to a state employment target, with Queensland now having the highest jobless rate in the country of 7.5 per cent, saying that was up to the Premier.